Phyllis June (Davis) Smith

PHYLLIS JUNE SMITH,87, of Benton “Went Home to be with the Lord” on Tuesday morning January 24, 2023.

She was born in Benton, IL on September 12, 1935, the daughter of James O. & Myrtle (Gipson) Davis.

Phyllis married Glen Allen Smith on April 13, 1952, just before she graduated, at Glen’s mom and dad’s house in Benton, and Glen preceded her in death on October 12, 2021.

Phyllis and Glen bought the neighborhood grocery store on West Reed Street in Benton and operated it till Glen was called into the Army in December of 1952, then she worked at Elgin State Hospital and was a stenographer to 9 of the doctors there from April 1953 to January 1954. After this she went to live with her husband in Colorado Springs, Colorado until he finished his time in the Army in December of 1954, and their first daughter Janet Sue Smith was born there. During the next 15 years she worked at Joan Claire Fashions in Benton as a seamstress. Then she worked at Smoler Bros. In West Frankfort and Country Set in DuQuoin. Phyllis had her own business filing income tax returns and bookkeeping services under the name of Phyllis Smith Tax Service which she started in 1962. Phyllis and Glen owned Smith’s Lakeview Mobile Home Park located at Lake Benton starting in 1978 and operating it for 30 years plus. Phyllis served at the West City Church of God where she is a member, she was always helping with the funeral dinners and during Communion service.

5 Children:

Janet Estrin & husband Larry of Gold Canyon, AZ

Rick Smith & wife Barbara of Sandborn, IN

Diane Burnett & husband Danny of Benton

Karen Holland & fiancé Jack Dekker of Queen Creek, AZ

Kevin Smith & wife Claudia of Belle Rive

A Nephew who she helped raise: Scott Allen Davis of Benton

Grandchildren:

Dedra & Brent Rowe

Laci & Matt Schultz

Travis Smith

Danessa Burnett & fiancé Matt Moschino of West Frankfort, IL

Dustin & Bethany Smith

Ashley Holland

Bryce & Emily Holland

Dylan &Makila Burnett

Christy Nance

Twila Ervin

Chantze & Jessica Elliott

Nickolaus Elliott-Smith

18 Great grandchildren

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, by a sister-Lena Wheeler, and by her 3 brothers William, Fremen and Jerry.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, Jan. 28th at the West City Church of God with Pastor Harol Whitlock officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Memorial Gardens in Thompsonville. Visitation will be after 10:00 A.M. on Saturday at the Church.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

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